It’s already news that Mikey Madison and Jeremy Allen White are eying roles in Aaron Sorkin‘s “The Social Network” sequel over at Sony. But who does Sorkin have in mind to play Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg? No, it’s not Jesse Eisenberg reprising his role from David Fincher‘s 2010 film.
Instead, Deadline reports that Jeremy Strong has emerged as a frontrunner to play Zuckerberg. Like Madison and White, there’s no formal offer on the table yet for Strong, but right now, he’s Sorkin’s top choice for the part. Sorkin writes and directs the sequel, currently on the fast track to production via Sony. He also produces the film with Todd Black, Peter Rice, and Stuart Besser.
Is Eisenberg not back as Zuckerberg a surprise? Not really. “The Social Network Part II” isn’t a direct sequel to Fincher’s film, but instead takes inspiration from Wall Street Journalist Josh Horwitz‘s various articles about the social media platform’s myriad negative cultural effects. White is in talks to play Horwitz in the film, while Madison may play whistleblower Frances Haugen. Horwitz’s pieces on Facebook are available in “The Facebook Files,” a collected edition.
Strong isn’t attached to any upcoming projects, so he’d be available for “The Social Network Part II” if Sorkin chooses him. It’s still too early to tell, but Sony may have a chance to put the film in theaters in late 2026. Stay tuned for more details as they become available.
